When I decided to take a last-minute ski trip, despite never having skied before, I went straight to Columbia. Was I shredding the slopes? Absolutely not, but at least I was warm, thanks to my Snowy Summit Insulated Jacket and Bugaboo II Pants . Here at WIRED, we’re fans of Columbia. The brand makes reliable, well-priced outdoor gear for skiing, hiking, hunting, or just a day at the beach. Plus, there’s almost always a deal to be found. WIRED reviewer Chris Haslam loves the Columbia Konos Trillium ATR as a value all-around trail-running shoe for faster hikes, day trips, and mixed terrain excursions. The plush cushioning and 8-millimeter drop are ideal on packed dirt, gravel, and woodland paths. For hiking boots , he recommends the Tellurix Titanium OutDry , which are waterproof, offer serious traction on wet rock and mud, and are surprisingly lightweight at 1.6 pounds per pair.…